Global family businesses to make immediate head count increases and technology investments in response to disruption

London, 5 March 2018

Newsroom

EY survey looks at how global family businesses are responding to industry disruption

50% of all global family businesses intend to create jobs in 2018

Family businesses plan to scale investments in technology and innovation over the next three years

Today's family businesses are creating cultures for innovation that are nimble, foster growth and reward fresh thinking. According to the EY global family business survey 2018, family businesses from top global markets believe they are entrepreneurial (68%), foster agility and change (67%) and allow for failure in the pursuit of improvement (61%).

What's more, global family businesses are also using social media (68%), incorporating big data (65%) and employing robotic process automation (50%). But in spite of utilizing what many class as disrupters in the marketplace, the survey finds that only 12% of global family businesses identify themselves as disrupters. The survey data comes from 589 global family businesses from 23 global markets who each have an average of 9,100 employees and an average annual revenue of US$3.4b. The EY Global Family Business Survey was co-authored by Dr. Joseph Astrachan, Professor Emeritus, Kennesaw State University.

In response to threats caused by disruption, family businesses plan to scale their investments in technology and innovation over the next three years. According to the survey, the top areas identified by family businesses where they plan to invest in during this period include new products and services (59%), IT systems and controls (57%), human capital (53%) and production capacity (48%).

Carrie Hall, EY Americas Family Business Leader, says:

“It is not surprising that family businesses are planning today to protect tomorrow’s businesses from disruption. An eye on opportunity and a focus on long-term strategy — as well as an enviable agility to move forward — have long set family businesses apart from their non-family counterparts.”

Family businesses turning to the next generation

Many respondents in the survey recognize the role that their family’s next generation can play when it comes to identifying disruptive threats. Thirty percent of respondents note that they are utilizing younger family members’ talents “a lot” today. But only 15% indicate they rely on the next generation “a great deal” for help identifying trends that could reshape the marketplace.

Still, that leaves the majority (55%) admitting there is more to be done when it comes to using their homegrown talent — the first generations that grew up alongside the digital revolution. Change and disruption were a natural part of their life cycle — and these generations may be well-suited to work in a digital landscape that affects every area of business.

“Family cohesiveness is a key ingredient in generating better financial returns for family business. The next generation grew up with the digital revolution and is used to change. It has a role to play when it comes to identifying disruptive threats or trends that could reshape the marketplace. Younger family members are digital natives and ready to rethink everything. They can make a real contribution to enhancing the innovation agenda. Engaging them early can support continuity and increase family cohesion, which are related to superior performance.”

Family businesses remain catalysts for job growth

Family businesses recognize the need for talent, both inside and outside the family, to be nurtured — and retained. The EY survey points out that roughly 50% of all global family businesses intend to create jobs in 2018, with 10% expecting increases of greater than 5%. In the US alone, this would outpace the U.S. Congressional Budget Office 2017 estimate of 2018 job growth of around 1% for the US.

The hiring plans for family businesses are grounded in their optimism for the world economy in 2018, with 59% predicting growth in their local economies and a mere 7% predicting a contraction.

Marnix van Rij, EY Global Family Business Leader, says:

“It’s good news for the global economy that family businesses have plans in place to continue embracing change into 2018 and beyond. They are the world’s economic backbone — not to mention job creators. More than half of all family businesses intend to create jobs this year. They appear to be uniquely positioned to thrive in disruptive times.”

-ends-

Notes to editors

About EY

EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities.

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com.

This news release has been issued by EYGM Limited, a member of the global EY organization that also does not provide any services to clients.

About the EY Family Business Survey 2018

The EY Family Business Survey 2018 is based on results gathered from 589 of the world’s largest family businesses in 23 top global markets — Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates), India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK and the US. Valid Research, an independent research institute in Germany, used a questionnaire and conducted phone interviews in the specific country language with senior ranking family business leaders. Based on the number of companies contacted to achieve our desired sample size, we achieved a 17.1% response rate.

Connect with us

EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients.